Larry Welnowski Jr.

I’ve been W-2 free for nearly 25 years. If you’ve been following me, you’ve probably noticed that I’ve been regularly posting side gig ideas that have the potential to eventually replace your W-2 income. And I’m going to keep doing it EVERY SINGLE DAY. Not get-rich-quick schemes. Not overnight millionaire promises. Real business ideas you can start while still collecting your W-2 paycheck, with the potential to grow into something much bigger. Why should you follow me? Because I’ve spent nearly 25 years building businesses and generating income without relying on an employer. Today, I have 3 completely different income streams: 1. Plastic Resin Distribution & Brokering I’ve spent 30 years in the plastics industry, building supplier relationships, finding customers, negotiating deals, and buying and selling plastic resins. 2. A Disney Media Business Built Around Facebook Groups What started as a Facebook group to help families navigate food allergies at Disney has grown into a media business reaching over 190,000 people through Facebook groups, newsletters, and social media. We generate income through sponsorships and advertising. 3. A Consumer Liquidation & Reselling Business We purchase discounted and liquidated merchandise and resell it for a profit. Three businesses. Three completely different industries. Three sources of income. And here’s what I’ve learned: You don’t need to quit your W-2 to start building your freedom. In fact, I encourage you NOT to quit until you’ve built something that can support you. Start small. Make your first $100. Then $1,000. Then figure out how to turn that into $5,000 a month. Will every idea work? Absolutely not. Have I made mistakes along the way? More than I can count. But I’ve learned that the biggest mistake is never trying. I’m not here to sell you a course or convince you that I have all the answers. I’m here to share real business opportunities, lessons from nearly 25 years of self-employment, and ideas that might inspire someone to take that first step. Follow me for the next 30 days. I’ll continue sharing a different side gig idea every day that has the potential to grow into a legitimate business. Some will require very little money to start. Others will require more time, capital, or experience. But every one will be worth exploring. You don’t have to hate your W-2 job to want something more. Maybe you want more income. Maybe you want more time with your family. Maybe you just want the freedom to decide how you spend your Tuesday afternoon. Whatever your reason, I want to help you explore what’s possible. Could one of these ideas eventually replace your W-2 paycheck? #WereGonnaFindOut

I’ve paid my mortgage through a side gig for the past 10 years. That’s why I’m showing you what’s possible. One side gig idea every day. Side Gig 👉 Leave your W2 idea of the day: START A COMMERCIAL ICE MACHINE CLEANING BUSINESS 🧊 Think about how many businesses have ice machines. Restaurants. Bars. Hotels. Coffee shops. Convenience stores. Those machines need regular cleaning and sanitizing. And many business owners would rather PAY someone to handle it. Here's how I'd start: Learn how to properly clean and sanitize commercial ice machines using manufacturer-approved procedures. Contact local restaurants, bars and hotels. Ask who's currently maintaining their machines. Charge per cleaning and offer recurring maintenance plans based on manufacturer recommendations. Build a customer base, develop a repeatable process and eventually hire technicians to handle the work. I love business ideas that involve recurring revenue. Instead of constantly looking for new customers, you can build relationships with businesses that need your services throughout the year. You could start on evenings and weekends while keeping your W2. You'll need training, equipment, insurance and an understanding of food-safety requirements. But the concept is simple. Find a service businesses need. Do it well. Build a customer base. Hire people to perform the work. I've been self-employed for nearly 25 years, and I've learned that some of the most interesting business opportunities are the ones nobody talks about. Could cleaning ice machines eventually replace someone's W2 income? Maybe you should find out?! 📩 Want updates on what I'm working on including side gig ideas like this? Subscribe to my FREE newsletter: larrywelnowski.com #weregonnafindout

Be a problem solver I’ve had this 9x13 rug in stock for 6 months $699 retail at Costco I’ve had it listed a bunch of times from $250 - $350 I got tied of looking at it, so I listed it this week for $135 Had a nice lady reach out that wanted to buy it. She was going to have her son help her. I knew it was too much for them to handle. This thing is a beast. I offered to deliver it since she wasn’t far away. I dropped it off just now with my truck and my muscle 💪 (my son) She gave me an extra $5 for delivery. I’m thrilled to have it gone. She was thrilled. Net profit for me was still $110 Sometimes it’s not about maximizing profit. It’s about moving inventory and making other people happy 😃 #weregonnafindout

I cleaned out one of my garages today and listed 5 items for sale on marketplace in 5 minutes with @muse. Such a time saver. #weregonnafindout

You have $1000 worth of stuff you are not using you can sell on FB Marketplace right now. Don’t tell me you don’t have any money to get started reselling.

3 years from now will still be 3 years from now. If you don’t start, you’ll be wondering why #weregonnafindout

Can Facebook Groups provide enough money to leave your W2? YES. My Facebook groups have exploded over the past couple years. How do I make money? Sponsorships. The majority of my facebook groups focus on traveling to Disney. Not just generic " I love Disney" groups. They focus on niche areas. Disney Vacation Club Traveling to Disney with Food Allergies Disney Dining Reservations Those 3 groups are all the largest groups in their space. Our media company which focuses on Disney currently reaches over 200,000 people between the groups, social media accounts, and newsletters. In July of 2024, I started collecting email addresses from my groups. How? Membership questions. When someone wants to join my groups, I ask some generic questions. One common one......"Do you agree to follow the rules?" Also...."Enter your email address to subscribe to our newsletter" About 50% of people enter their email addresses. Since July 2024, I've collected 10,200 email addresses. Our largest newsletter reaches almost 8000 of those email addresses. We are averaging a 50% open rate Last week's newsletter brought almost 100 people to one of our sponsors' websites. Not only to their website, direct links to their available rentals. You might say "So what?" People love Disney. You're right, but our audience are all people actively looking to travel to Disney, which means the interest level of planning and booking a trip is imminent. Facebook Groups are a long-term play. This won't be quick money. Find your niche, start the group. Cultivate and keep the group active. I'm currently using @muse to hunt new sponsors for us. This is SUPER interesting and time saving. 2 years from now will be 2 years from now no matter what.......if you don't start you will be wondering why you didn't. #weregonnafindout

I listen to 80’s rap music, wear backwards hats and Jordans, watch sports every night, and buy signed jerseys. My wife had no idea what she was getting into 28 years ago 🤣

Just remember Everyone is just trying to make it Be kind

I’ve paid my mortgage through a side gig for the past 10 years. That’s why I’m showing you what’s possible. One side gig idea every day. Side Gig 👉 Leave your W2 idea of the day: START A HOME WI-FI OPTIMIZATION BUSINESS! Here's a side gig you could start on evenings and weekends while keeping your W2. Think about how many people struggle with Wi-Fi in their homes. The internet works great in the living room. But upstairs? Terrible. The home office? Constantly disconnecting. The backyard patio? Forget about it. What if YOU offered a service to help homeowners fix those problems? And here's the interesting part. You don't need to become a computer programmer or develop any technology. Here's how I'd approach it. 1. LEARN THE BASICS Learn how home Wi-Fi networks work, how to identify weak signals and how to properly install mesh Wi-Fi systems. Practice in your own home. Learn how to test connection speeds, position equipment and troubleshoot common problems. You can start with a laptop, smartphone and basic networking tools. 2. FIND CUSTOMERS I'd start with neighborhood Facebook groups. Post something simple: 'Tired of slow Wi-Fi or dead zones in your house? I offer in-home Wi-Fi troubleshooting and mesh network installation.' I'd also approach real estate agents, home office workers and homeowners who have recently moved. Start with ONE customer. 3. MAKE MONEY Charge a flat fee for an in-home Wi-Fi assessment. Offer additional services such as: • Mesh Wi-Fi installation • Router placement and configuration • Wi-Fi dead-zone troubleshooting • Connecting smart home devices • Home office network setup Charge separately for equipment and installation when appropriate. Be upfront that some problems originate with the internet provider and cannot be fixed by changing equipment inside the home. 4. SCALE IT Once you've developed a reliable process, hire someone to handle installations. Create a checklist for every appointment. Build relationships with real estate agents, property managers and homebuilders. Eventually, you could have multiple technicians servicing different neighborhoods. You don't need an expensive storefront. You need to learn a skill and find people willing to pay for your help. Of course, you'll need to understand networking security, protect customer passwords, carry appropriate insurance and price your services to cover travel and labor. But this is a business you could test without leaving your W2. Start with ONE customer. Solve their problem. Ask for a referral. Build from there. The goal isn't to spend the rest of your life installing routers. The goal is to eventually build a business that operates without you handling every appointment. Could a home Wi-Fi optimization business eventually replace someone's W2 income? We're Gonna Find Out! QUESTION: Do you have any Wi-Fi dead zones in your house? Would you pay someone to come fix them? 📩 Want more side gig ideas like this? Subscribe to my FREE newsletter for business ideas, practical tips and strategies to eventually leave your W2. 👉 larrywelnowski.com #WereGonnaFindOut #SideGig #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness

So @muse is a game changer….. I picked up this FREE trampoline to show you how easy it is to make money. I sent 2 pictures of this to Muse. Asking it to create a listing for $25 Took 3 minutes to be live. Muse is also monitoring all of my listing for responses and offers. I’ve asked it to negotiate, and agree to offers within 20% of my asking price. I’ve also given it my pick up availability and connected my calendar. If a pick up is scheduled, it will notify me of the pick up appointment time. Stop making excuses Just go find out #weregonnafindout

It's probably the #1 reason people fail at a side gig. They don't test the market and want to rush into something. Test and know your sales funnel. #weregonnafindout

I’ve paid my mortgage through a side gig for the past 10 years. That’s why I’m showing you what’s possible. One side gig idea every day. Side Gig 👉 Leave your W2 idea of the day: This one takes some startup money, but I LOVE it. START A LUXURY RESTROOM TRAILER RENTAL BUSINESS! Take a look at this picture. That's a portable restroom trailer with FOUR private bathrooms! Air conditioning. Running water. Sinks. Mirrors. Lighting. Upscale interiors. And people are RENTING these for weddings, parties, graduations, corporate events and festivals. HERE'S THE REAL-WORLD BUSINESS MODEL. I found these rental rates for a four-bay luxury restroom trailer: • 1-day rental: $1,000 • 2-day rental: $1,300 • 3-day rental: $1,500 Delivery, setup and pickup are available, with pricing varying by location. WHAT DOES ONE COST? I researched actual trailers for sale. A new four-stall unit can cost approximately $45,000–$75,000, depending on features. Yes, that's a significant investment. But LET'S DO THE MATH. At $1,000 per rental: • 4 rentals/month = $4,000 • 6 rentals/month = $6,000 • 8 rentals/month = $8,000 That's GROSS revenue, not profit. You'll have expenses including insurance, transportation, waste disposal, cleaning, maintenance, storage and potentially financing. 4 rentals/month ~ Investment paid in 12-16 months 8 rentals/month ~ Investment paid in 6-12 months HOW WOULD I START? Before buying anything, I'd contact wedding venues, event planners and festival organizers. Find out how often they rent restroom trailers and what they're paying. I'd even consider booking customers and subcontracting the trailer rentals initially to test demand. Once the business is established, purchase your own unit. HOW DO YOU SCALE? Start with ONE trailer. Build relationships with venues and event planners. Hire someone to handle delivery, setup and cleaning. Eventually, purchase additional trailers. Now you're building a rental fleet instead of simply trading your time for money. HERE'S WHY I LOVE THIS IDEA. I've been self-employed for nearly 25 years. And I love businesses where you purchase an asset that can generate revenue repeatedly. It's not passive income. It's not guaranteed income. But it IS a business model worth investigating. Could one luxury restroom trailer eventually help someone leave their W2? We're Gonna Find Out! 📩 Want more side gig ideas like this? Subscribe to my FREE newsletter! 👉 larrywelnowski.com #WereGonnaFindOut #SideGig #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness

Every morning I thank God that I am alive and I haven’t received any emergency calls overnight. The very next thing I think about is how excited I am to see what AI will help me with today. I am constantly talking to my agents to further my knowledge of what they can do for my businesses. We live in an amazing time. #weregonnafindout

In less than 2 hours, my first newsletter hits 164 inboxes. There’s still time to subscribe Larrywelnowski.com

My very first newsletter drops to inboxes at 8 a.m. tomorrow... Thank you to the 150+ people who have already subscribed 🙏 Newsletters will cover side gigs, Facebook group management, and reseller corner tips(MUSE this week) I'll also be covering topics like building your personal brand on LinkedIn like I did (20,700 followers). I'm excited to share what I'm learning and what I've already learned in my 25 years as a multiple business owner. Haven't subscribed yet? Visit larrywelnowski.com and enter your email address. #weregonnafindout

Go post a dog picture on LinkedIn and see what happens #weregonnafindout

EVERY service business needs this kind of proactive communication So many are still failing at this. I don’t hire anyone unless they communicate like this

I’ve paid my mortgage through a side gig for the past 10 years. That’s why I’m showing you what’s possible. One side gig idea every day. Side Gig 📷 Leave your W2 idea of the day: START A WEDDING LIVESTREAMING BUSINESS! Here's a side gig you could start on weekends while keeping your W2. Think about how many couples get married every year. Now think about all the family members and friends who can't attend. Grandparents who can't travel. Relatives living across the country. Friends stationed overseas. What if YOU offered a service that allowed those people to watch the wedding live? And here's the interesting part. You don't necessarily need expensive professional video equipment to get started. Here's how I'd approach it. 1. START SMALL Learn how to livestream an event using a quality smartphone or camera. Invest in a sturdy tripod, wireless microphone, portable battery and reliable internet connection. Practice recording and streaming events before accepting paying customers. I'd start by offering the service for a friend's wedding or a small local ceremony. Build a portfolio. 2. FIND CUSTOMERS I'd contact local wedding planners, photographers, officiants and wedding venues. My pitch? "I help couples include family and friends who can't attend their wedding in person." I'd also advertise in local wedding Facebook groups. You don't need hundreds of customers. Start with ONE wedding. 3. MAKE MONEY Charge a flat fee to livestream the ceremony. Offer additional services like: • A private viewing link for invited guests • A recording of the ceremony • Multiple camera angles • Livestreaming the speeches and reception Make sure your pricing covers equipment, travel, preparation, setup and your time. You'll also need permission from the couple and venue, and you should understand how copyrighted music can affect livestreams. 4. SCALE IT This is where I'd get creative. Once you've developed a reliable process, hire someone to operate the equipment. Build relationships with wedding venues. Train additional operators. Eventually, you could have multiple teams covering weddings on the same weekend. You could even expand into graduations, memorial services and other private events. The goal isn't necessarily to spend every weekend operating a camera. The goal is to build a business where you eventually manage the customers and employees instead of doing every job yourself. Could a wedding livestreaming business eventually replace someone's W2 income? We're Gonna Find Out! 📷 Want more side gig ideas just like this? Subscribe to my FREE newsletter for business ideas, practical tips and strategies to eventually leave your W2. 📷 larrywelnowski.com #WereGonnaFindOut #SideGig #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness

Not many even know what plastic resin looks like much less think there’s a business opportunity there. I’ve been distributing plastic resin for 30 years now. Our company @Nickel_City has averaged $3-$5M in annual sales and I have 2 employees. My wife and my son. No drama. Just making money. Remember, you don’t have to scale to be successful. #weregonnafindout

Remember Anyone can change the trajectory of their lives #weregonnafindout